KC Royals Minors Recap: Storm Chasers Sweep Doubleheader

Omaha swept their doubleheader over OKC. The Storm Chasers won the first game in walk off fashion, 5-4.

With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, Micah Gibbs hit a ball back to the mound for an infield single (his first Triple-A hit) and the walk off winner. Gibbs entered on defense behind the plate in the seventh.

Reymond Fuentes got the scoring started with a solo home run in the first (one of his three hits). Cheslor Cuthbert and Jose Martinez each had two hits (including a double). Balbino Fuenmayor, whose hitting streak came to an end last night, went 3-for-4.

Michael Mariot earned the win in relief with a scoreless ninth (two strikeouts). Aaron Brooks allowed all four runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out seven. Two of the runs Brooks allowed came on a two out, two-run homer in the sixth.

The Storm Chasers won the second game, 9-4. The two teams combined to score seven runs in the first.

After allowing four runs on a single, a hit batter, a double, and a home run in the first, Yohan Pino earned the complete game victory. Over the seven innings, he allowed seven hits and struck out ten.

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Omaha scored three runs in the first and then five more in the second. Gibbs got the scoring started in the 2nd inning with his first Triple-A home run. Fuenmayor collected three more hits in the second game and drove in four runs.

Martinez had two more hits in the second game. Moises Sierra went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

*To make room for Pino, Andy Ferguson was placed on the DL. Omaha may have to make room for Yordano Ventura, who was optioned back, but with the injury to Jason Vargas, who knows? They also need to add the three Team USA Pan Am Games participants.

NW Arkansas beat Tulsa, 1-0 in the pitcher’s duel.

Cody Reed allowed just two hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out seven. Reed allowed a single to start the game, retired nine in a row, and allowed a leadoff single in the fourth. Reed then retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced.

Kyle Zimmer earned his third save with two scoreless innings of relief. He allowed a hit and struck out three, including the final batter of the game with the tying run on second base.

The Naturals scored the game’s lone run in the 2nd inning on a Lane Adams single. Bubba Starling returned to the lineup after being carted off the field on Saturday night. He went 2-for-3. Kenny Diekroeger also had two hits in the win.

Wilmington dropped their series in Carolina with the 8-4 morning/afternoon loss.

Brooks Pounders made his 2015 Blue Rocks debut and allowed four runs on four hits (including a two-run home run) after recording the first two outs in the first. After a single to start the 2nd inning, Pounders retired the final eight batters he faced with five strikeouts.

Kevin McCarthy took the loss, after a three base fielding error in centerfield started the fifth and scored on a single. That was the only hit McCarthy allowed over 3.1 innings.

On offense for the Blue Rocks, Mauricio Ramos and Ryan O’Hearn each had two hits and an RBI. Catcher Luis Villegas, who may have caught his last game with the Blue Rocks, went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI (fellow catcher Cam Gallagher should be returning from the Pan Am Games).

*In the series loss, the Blue Rocks committed eight errors in the three games.

Lexington enjoyed the day off before beginning a seven-game homestand on Wednesday night.

Idaho Falls lost to Great Falls, 5-2. The Voyagers scored two runs in the first and the ninth.

Carter Hope took the loss, as he allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out two. Cruz Guevara followed with three scoreless innings before Alberto Rodriguez allowed a two-run home run in the ninth.

On offense, Roman Collins and Logan Nottebrok each had two hits in the loss. Both doubled.

Burlington lost to Bristol in 13 innings, 6-3. Both teams scored a single run in the tenth.

The Royals committed five errors, four of them coming in the top of the 13th inning when the Pirates scored three runs.

Matt Ditman took the loss, as he allowed those three unearned runs (he had an error) on two hits over three innings. Igol Feliz got the start and allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out five. Jacob Bodner followed and allowed a run on two hits over three innings. He struck out three.

On offense, the Royals collected six hits, three by Trey Stover (including his first double of the season). Stover also stole two bases.

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